This year's UConn women's basketball team may have received its greatest validation to date as the undefeated Huskies (38-0) were put on the same plane of success as the 2001-02 undefeated national championship team that is widely regarded as the best in program history.

Five players from the current team received All-America recognition from the Associated Press on Tuesday, a feat that only the 2001-02 team had previously accomplished.

Sophomore Breanna Stewart was a unanimous first-team selection as one of the five best players in the country while seniors Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley were named to the second team, signifying them as two of the Top 10 players nationally.

"Having that honor is really great, and I think that's what you want to see as a player," Stewart said. "I think that my personal goals, that's one of the goals that I had.

"But when it comes down to it it's more important about the overall team and how we're doing. So it's kind of gravy. But, at the same time, it's a really nice honor to be in company with four other top players in the country."

Stewart earning first-team honors marked the 18th time in UConn history a player received such recognition. Twelve different players have shared those 18 honors led by Maya Moore, a four-time first-team All-American.

Stewart is only the second UConn sophomore to be named to the Associated Press first team, joining Moore who accomplished it in 2009.

"I wanted to be an All-American last year, but it didn't really work out as I planned," Stewart said. "We have team goals and just setting personal goals for myself, just setting the bar high because I want to reach my expectations and I want to make sure I get better each season."

Stewart leads the Huskies in scoring at 19.4 points per game and blocked shots with 106. She is also second in rebounding (8.1), third in steals (62) and fourth in assists (116) as she has established herself as one of the most versatile players in the country and one of the frontrunners for Player of the Year honors.

"You don't watch a kid like Stewie with the way she played last year in the NCAA tournament and get surprised by anything that she's doing this year," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "All she's done is just take what she did in the tournament and expand on it. So I don't think anybody that's ever watched her closely the last two years is going to be surprised one iota."

Hartley received four first-team votes and Dolson two en route to being named to the second team. Hartley is second in scoring for the Huskies this year at 16.3 points per game. She's also second in assists (166) and steals (66). Dolson leads the team in rebounding average (9.2) and minutes played (32.1 per game) is fourth in scoring (12.4), third in assists (127) and field goal percentage (.559) and second in blocked shots (89).

Both have received first-team All-America honors in the past, but it was as part of the State Farm All-America team which chooses 10 first-team players. Dolson was a third-team AP pick last year while this is the first time Hartley has earned AP recognition.

"It's the highest team I've been named to," Hartley said. "I think I just worked really hard to kind of improve each year and I think I was able to do that. Even though last year I kind of struggled at times, I think in the end I still became a better player. I think you work really hard for that stuff and you just try to have the best season you can, and I think as a senior you're ending on that note it's really good."

With Mosqueda-Lewis and Jefferson earning honorable-mention status, all five UConn starters received AP All-America status.

The only other time in program history that happened was in 2002 when Sue Bird was named to the first team, Swin Cash and Diana Taurasi were named to the second team, Asjha Jones earned third-team honors and Tamika Williams received honorable mention status.

UConn's Associated Press First-Team All-Americans

Breanna Stewart (2014)

Maya Moore (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008)

Tina Charles (2010)

Renee Montgomery (2009)

Diana Taurasi (2004, 2003)

Sue Bird (2002)

Svetlana Abrosimova (2000)

Shea Ralph (2000)

Nykesha Sales (1998, 1997)

Kara Wolters (1997, 1996)

Jennifer Rizzotti (1996)

Rebecca Lobo (1995)

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